Typography Biochip Situ Synthesis System

In genomics era especially in the post-genomics, it has been an important subject how to find out the function of all kinds of genes from massive gene information data. Biochip, rising in 90', is a new technology that can detect hundreds of gene in the same time. Biochip technology, including chip fabrication, hybridization and signal detection, is widely applied in the fields of gene expression, gene mutation, polymorphism and new drug discovery. Therefore, the method and instrument of fabricating biochip is the primary problem in the research of related technology. A novel machine for in situ synthesis of biochip was developed based on the principle of typography printing in this paper, whose purpose is to fabricate media-low density DNA microarray.The friendly touch-sensitive screen human-machine interface (HMI) was designed to manipulate the apparatus. The programmable logic controller was employed to control operation steps involving in biochip synthesis, including locating and imprinting, and delivering the specific liquid. The structure of machine is described here in detail, consisting of platform for imprinting, precision printing stencil, one-way positioning device, manipulator, and liquid & gas delivery system and control system.The accuracy of machine was tested by using three-coordinated measurement instrument: the positioning accuracy is 28.4μm, repeatability accuracy of printing 16μm. The testing results show that the accuracy of the machine is good enough to meet the demand of in situ synthesis of biochip based on the principle of typography printing.The cost of fabricating a gene chip will largely decrease when using this instrument, because mask preparation in the traditional method of gene chip in-site synthesis is avoided. 432 features will be synthesized on a glass substrate of 75 mm X 25 mm. Therefore, it is hopeful to fill the gap of media-low gene chip and make the foundation for spreading and applying biochip in China.